A New Mark for LaborFew of us who care about the future of the labour movement would not admit to a surge of hope and sense of excitement following the election of Mark Latham to the federal parliamentary leadership.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Muscling UpLabor’s Craig Emerson discusses how the changes to his party’s leadership will impact on the industrial relations agenda.

Unions: Thinking PinkWhat’s the difference between a Nursing Home and an Aged Care Facility? More than semantics, according to nurses worried Australia is woefully unprepared for the crash at the end of the baby-boom cycle, writes Jim Marr.

Bad Boss: Global BullyIf nothing else, US-based call centre giant TeleTech is consistent. After being nosed out of last year’s Bad Boss gong it is back, bigger and badder than ever in its search for Tony honours.

Unions: National FocusIn this national round up by Noel Hester, Hugh McKay tells us how the young are sticking together in a bewildered society, the gongs get handed out at the ACTU awards and there is a chance to win as a worthy wordsmith.

Economics: Friend or Flunkey?On New Years Day as you look at the wine stains and tread on a soggy puddle on the carpet, will you look for the phone and call a cleaner? Gabrielle Meagher gives a few ethical dilemmas to confront before you make that call.

History: Young BloodYouth is no barrier to political leadership, as the 37-year-old John Watson proved 100 years ago, writes Neale Towart.

Review: Human RacingSeabiscuit is a great horse movie but more than that it serves as a powerful metaphor for the importance of living for the future while maintaining passion and compassion in the present, writes Tara de Boehmler.

Employer Bullies Vie For ‘Tony’

Tony Abbott may have left industrial relations to operate on the health system, but his memory lives on with the announcement of finalists for the second annual ‘Tony Award’ for Australia’s worst boss.

The winner will be announced at the Labor Council’s executive dinner on Friday December 12 and will join last year’s winner Australia Post on a perpetual trophy depicting the former Minister for Workplace Relations in his traditional cassock.

Labor Council of NSW Secretary John Robertson said all nominees had exhibited the sort of disdain for workers and their right to organise that Tony Abbott had championed during his time as Minister.

"We believe it is appropriate that we recognise acts of bastardy and put on record our appreciation for the organising opportunities these employers have provided the union movement," Mr Robertson said.

"The common theme in all the nominations is a mean-spirited attitude to workers, who are regarded as units of labour rather than human beings."

The shortlist for this year's Tony Award for Australia's worst boss is:

- Morris McMahon owner Judith Beswick - for locking her workforce out of the premises for 17 weeks.

- Sydney City Council - for training up a team of garbo strike-breakers to force down wages and conditions of its full-time workforce.